After I got my green card 5 years ago, I have left the US a dozen times.(all short 3 to 10 day visits to Europe and Asia)
When arriving back at a US airport, I always just present my greencard and customs declarationi card to the CBP officer. They have never asked me to show them my home country's passport, which I always have in my other hand. They just swipe my greencard, stamp the customs cards, and send me on my way.(sometimes a couple of routine questions like purpose of trip or the number of days I was away from the US)
For my father, it's a different story. Everytime he re-enters the US, the first words out of the CBP officer's mouth are always "passport, please" even when he was still holding out his greencard for the officer. Sometimes the officer would take the greencard and put it aside, without even taking a glance... then immediately ask to see his passport...
Last week, we both flew from Paris to JFK. We waited in queue together, but I decided to perform a little test. When they called "next" I let my father go first, by himself. Like usual, the officer sees him holding out the greencard and before taking it, the officer says "you passport, sir." I stayed in line but let a few people go ahead of me. When my father was cleared, I went to the same counter. The same officer took my greencard without saying a word. He scanned the card and asked me where I had just visited(France). He stamped my customs card and said "welcome back".......
Me: "how come you asked to see my dad's passport but not mine?"
Officer: "your dad???" (looking aroudn seeing nobody standing next to me)
Me: "the guy you cleared before me was my father"
Officer: "oh... really... then why didn't you guys come up together"
Me: (acting dumb) "I didn't know we could do that..."
Officer: "well... your dad didn't look like a greencard holder"
Me: "and I look like one?" (stating to laugh...)
Officer: "I guees so.... have a nice day" (shaking his head)
I just don't get it..... What does looks have to do with it?
I walked down to baggage area where my father had already picked up both of our bags....
Oh well... just wondering....
When arriving back at a US airport, I always just present my greencard and customs declarationi card to the CBP officer. They have never asked me to show them my home country's passport, which I always have in my other hand. They just swipe my greencard, stamp the customs cards, and send me on my way.(sometimes a couple of routine questions like purpose of trip or the number of days I was away from the US)
For my father, it's a different story. Everytime he re-enters the US, the first words out of the CBP officer's mouth are always "passport, please" even when he was still holding out his greencard for the officer. Sometimes the officer would take the greencard and put it aside, without even taking a glance... then immediately ask to see his passport...
Last week, we both flew from Paris to JFK. We waited in queue together, but I decided to perform a little test. When they called "next" I let my father go first, by himself. Like usual, the officer sees him holding out the greencard and before taking it, the officer says "you passport, sir." I stayed in line but let a few people go ahead of me. When my father was cleared, I went to the same counter. The same officer took my greencard without saying a word. He scanned the card and asked me where I had just visited(France). He stamped my customs card and said "welcome back".......
Me: "how come you asked to see my dad's passport but not mine?"
Officer: "your dad???" (looking aroudn seeing nobody standing next to me)
Me: "the guy you cleared before me was my father"
Officer: "oh... really... then why didn't you guys come up together"
Me: (acting dumb) "I didn't know we could do that..."
Officer: "well... your dad didn't look like a greencard holder"
Me: "and I look like one?" (stating to laugh...)
Officer: "I guees so.... have a nice day" (shaking his head)
I just don't get it.....
What does looks have to do with it? I walked down to baggage area where my father had already picked up both of our bags....
Oh well... just wondering....
